The art of Hand Therapy

Hand Therapy Week, from June 2 to 9, will shed light on the advanced practice of hand therapy and the practitioners who are leading the way in assessing, diagnosing and treating upper limb injuries.

The Australian Hand Therapy Association (AHTA) and practitioners across the country will educate the community during the dedicated week about therapists’ work and their ability to help patients with burns and scars to fractures, dislocations and tendinitis.

This year’s theme for Hand Therapy Week is workplace injuries caused by poor hand ergonomics, mechanical hazards, environmental hazards or skin irritants.

Geelong Hand Therapy owner, Jane Skeen, has worked in the area of hand and upper limb rehabilitation since 1995 and has developed an interest in the management of wrist injuries, base of thumb osteoarthritis, sport injuries and hand traumas from various incidents.

Having run Geelong Hand Therapy for the past 23 years, Mrs Skeen knows how important hand therapy is after any trauma and encouraged locals to learn more during the week-long celebration.

“The most common thing we hear in hand therapy is that people didn’t even know it existed.

“That’s part of our reason to celebrate and champion Hand Therapy Week, to let people know we exist.

“We use our hands for everything.

“Whether you’re a tradie, do data entry, no matter what you are, you use your hands for your job and all the things you like to do.

“They are vitally important and if they aren’t right, then it can have quite an impact on earning an income and doing everything you love.”

Mrs Skeen said that while many people have in the past headed towards physiotherapists for upper limb injuries and traumas, hand therapy is also another fantastic and more “specialised treatment” option.

“Physio is certainly a way to treat any hand or upper limb injury, however is not as specialist and fine-tuned as what we do with hand therapy.

“People often think of physio when they’ve hurt their wrist, but unless the physio is a hand therapist physio, then they usually won’t approach it the same way that a hand therapist might.

“We’ve all done additional training within our practise and are a bit more specific with our treatment of issues.

“The more information we can get out there about hand issues, then the more that people who are struggling with things like pins and needles, arthritis, base of thumb pain can know where to go to get the best care.

“That’s what Hand Therapy Week essentially is all about.”

Throughout Hand Therapy Week, locals can win $500 by answering questions via ‘comment’ on the AHTA Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn competition posts about patients own hand injuries and treatments.

The winner will be notified on June 11 via Facebook Messenger.

For more about Geelong Hand Therapy, head to geelonghandtherapy.com.au/.